David Sullivan, PhD, joined the department of Communication Studies in 1992. Sullivan teaches courses in communication theory, media theory and criticism, journalism, political communication, and mediated sports. He has authored journal articles on the topics of mediated sports and mediated politics that have appeared in the Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, Journal of Communication, and Women's Studies in Communication. A former newspaper reporter and editor, he has served as faculty advisor to USD's undergraduate newspaper since he arrived at USD.

Scholarly Work

Sullivan has authored several “Top Paper” conference papers, including the subsequently published “Images of a Breakthrough Woman Candidate: Dianne Feinstein's 1990, 1992, and 1994 Campaign Television Advertisements.” His research and criticism of mediated sports includes “Broadcast Television and the Game of Packaging Sports,” a chapter in Handbook of Sports and Media (2006), and several papers on the construction of masculine identity in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Areas of Interest

Sullivan has developed or co-developed a variety of courses in the Communications Studies curriculum, including Introduction to Media Writing, Communication Criticism, Writing for Electronic Media, Political Communication, Sports and Media, Advanced Journalism, and Media Processes and Effects. He also has taught preceptorial and Honors sections of the introductory media studies course, and he supervises the department’s practicum course associated with student work on the undergraduate newspaper.